Feeding mechanism for envelopes and the like



June 2, 1931. NQVICK 1,808,706

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR ENVELOPES AM) THE LIKE Filed Nov. 15, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 fi 11?? r Q I i H INVENTOR Abra/mm Nov/ch.

ATTORN EYS June 2, 1931. A. NOVICK 1,808,706

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR ENVELOPES AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 15. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 40/7/7407 IVOV/C/l'.

ATTORNEYS Jun 2, 1931.-

A. NOVICK FEEDING MECHANISM FOR ENVELOPES AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-She et 3 Filed Nov. 15. 1928 INVENTOR Abra/2am Nov/ck.- BY

' ATTORNEYS Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE ABRAHAM NOVICK, OF FLUSHING, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR '1O F. L. SMITHE MACHINE OO.,

- INC; OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK FEEDING MECHANISM FOR ENVELOPES AN THE LIKE A plication fi led November 15, 1928. Serial No. 319,501.

The present invention relates to .a device for feeding envelopes from a stack and is principally concerned with the provision of a device for feeding the blanks from the stack so as to form a continuous band in which only the sealing flaps are exposed. Although applicable as a top feeder, the invention, is particularly adapted for feeding the blanks from j ects of the invention will be apparent as the description proceeds.

I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an illustrative embodiment;

Figure 2 is a view seen to the left of Figure 1, some parts being in section; and

Figures 3 to 6, inclusive, are somewhat diagrammatic views showing different stages in the operation of the improved device.

Briefly the operation of the illustrative device is as follows: The forward end of the bottom blank is moved away from the stack by the operation of a sucker member common in the art, this affording an opportunity for a pair of separator disks upon which the weight of the pile partly rests, to start the separa- 1 tion of the bottom blank. While this is taking place the sucker moves downward with the end of the blank for a short distance when the suction is cut off and a pair of presser members come into play and bring the end of the blank downward against a traveling conveyor. When this has occurred," traction between the blank. and the conveyors is detail and by characters of reference, A de notes the'stack which rests upon a pair of separating disks 10, 11. Part of the welght,

however, is borne by depending toe members 12, 13 supported from above by means not shown, together with a member 14 of iwed e shape which is adjustable along a rod 5 disks 10, 11, At this forward end the stack is supported b means of a pair of fingers, the upper of whic 16, sustains the forward end of the stack in a somewhat elevated position except for a small number of the blanks 1 which, due to the increased curvature incident upon the removal of the blanks from the pile, drop below the first mentioned finger upon a second finger 17.

As above stated, the feeding of the blank is initiated by the action of a sucker, 20, which has a compound motion to and fro, as well as up and down, the mechanism for accomplishing these movements being as fol lows: Attached to the sucker rod is a lever 21 isposed beneath and intermediate the j (see Figure 1) which is fulcrumed about two pivots including pivot 22 borne by a bellcrank 23 and a pivot 24 borne by a link 25. The bellcrank 23 is journaled for movement about a shaft 26 and adjacent its other end has a cam roller 27 in contact with a cam 28, secured to a shaft 29; Thus by means of the mechanism described, the sucker will receive by the operation of the cam 28 (and sprin 30) a movement essentially to and fro. Lin 25 is secured to a lever 33 having aslotted arm 34 in which it is adjustably held by means of a nut 35. The other end of the bell crank bears a cam roller 36 which is urged in contact with its cam 37 by a spring 38, it being evident that operation of the cam 37 will give the sucker the desired up and down component of movement.

As above stated, the sucker having been moved'down a short distance, the suction is cut 011' and the blank en aged by a pair of presser or transfer mem ers 40, 40 which move theend of the blank a ainst the conveyor members mentioned. echanism for operating said presser members is as follows: Each presser member is joined to a lever 41 by means of a pivot 42 which is held in adjusted positionin a fork 43 at the ends of member '40. Lever 41 which is pivoted about a shaft 44 bears at its opposite end a movement of each pressermember 40 is obtained by-means of cam surfaces 48 attached on the under surface thereof and. bearing upon a roller 49 whosesupport is shown in Figure 1, the presser members being held against the roller 49 by means of a spring 47 By means of the mechanism described, it will be seen that the prcsser members 40 have a compound motion which brings the blank engaged by said member from the upper position, as seen in Figure 4, to the lower position in Figure 6, and thence back to the position of Figure 4.

The presser members having conveyed the end of the blank against the conveyor belt (to be described), traction of the blank against said belt is accomplished as above mentioned by means of a pair of roller members which move across the end of the blank and press it against the belts. Mechanism for accomplishing'this is asfollows: Rod 50 carrying roller 51 is pivoted to a bellcrank 52, adjustably alon the length of said rod,

the other end of sai bellcrank bearing a cam roller 53, which is urged against a cam 54 by a spring 55, rotation of cam 54 being efl'ected to reciprocate the rod 50 back and forth, as will be apparent. Said roller 50 is maintained against the surface upon which it begrs'by means of a spring 56 attached to ro 50.

For the purpose of conveying vaway the blanks released from the stack, a system of conveyors is provided which in the embodiment shown includes a conveyor 60 disposed.

so as to receive the released portion of the blank'by the action of the presser members 40, and also to receive the roller members 51 which bear against same. Conveyor 60 is carried around alarge drum 61 and idler pulleys 62, 62a. Due to the action of the pair 0 roller members 51 cooperating with the be t 60, the blank held between them is con-' veyed from theibottom of the stack, the'ar- .rangement being such that when this action 1 takes place the separator disks 10 and 11 will have completel severed theblank from the stack. It will 1 understood'that the action of the feeding members described-is such that i a fresh blank will be resented to the conveys or when the prece 'ng blank has been conveyed a distance equal only to the desired width of the gum on the sealing flap whereelzy a band of overlapping blanks is produc v lapping band of bl For. the further trans ortation of the over- 65 1s provided which extends around a portion of the periphery of the drum 61 andabove the conveyor 60 and passes over idler to a large drum 0, cooperating with which is a pair of guide conveyor 71, 71,

formed, a conveyor,

which conveniently are arranged at either side of band 60 and utilize roll 62 in common with band 60. A roll 71a is also provided, around which bands 71 travel. Upon traversing the drum 70, the blanks are gummed by means of the gum box 73. After passing the gumming apparatus and also a guide roll 72 the blanks pass to a mechanism by means partially indicated here, is described. and

rclaimed in my co-pending application,- Serial No. 156,080, filedDeceinber 21, 1926.

Certain features ofthe invention described in'the foregoing may be emphasized: First, it will be noted that by virtue of the arrangement of the conveyor band 60'dii'ectly under and substantially parallel with the-sheets or blanks in the stack, a minimum of deflecting of the blanks is necessary; Secondly, it will be noted that the respective paths of the roller members 51 and the deflector members 48 extend within one another whereby the deflector members hold the blank against the conveyor until the roller members have moved over and upon the blank. It will be further noted that the roller members straddle the deflector members with the result that the latter engage the blank in advance of the roller members so that buckling of the blank vby the rollers is prevented. If the positions \of the deflector members and the roller mem-' the case of the sucker and pivots 42 in con nection with the deflector members) which are toward the remote end of said members members is reduced to a minimum. If the, center of movement be imagined as under or wherebythe total bodily movement of said within the stack for example, it will be seen that the total movement of said members particularly at the ends remote from" the stack construction re uiringa-mimmum of movement it is possi le for thespeed of'tlie' machineto. attain a high value. I v

*Itwill be evident that, in addition to prowillbe very much greaterr By applicants viding a machine which satisfactorily acl complishes the feedingof blanks from a stack;

into an overlapping and,'I have also provided means for readily adjusting the movement of the various "feeding elements whereby the machine is quickly and easily adjusted to take care of blanks of varying size.

Various changes may be made in the specific mechanism described without departing from the spirit of my invention, and certain parts thereof may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In a device for feeding envelope blanks in overlapped relation, in combination, a support for holding a stack of blanks, means for initiating the separation of the outside blank, a conveyor, means for bringing the separated portions of the blank against said conveyor comprising a pair of deflector members; means for constraining said separator portions against said conveyor comprising a pair of rollers having a to and fro movement, said deflector members being straddled by said roller members, the conveyor presenting a more or less fiat surface and being more or less parallel to the plane of a blank in the stack.

2. In a device for feedingv envelope blanks, in combination, a support/for holding a stack of blanks, means for initiating the separation of an outside blank, a conveyor, means for bringing the separated portion of the blanks against said conveyors comprising deflector members, means for constraining such separated portion against said conveyor, the latter presenting a more or less flat surface and being more or less parallel to the plane of a blank in the stack.

3. In a device for feeding envelope blanks,

in combination, a support for holding-a stack of blanks, a sucker for initiating the separation of the outside blank, a conveyor for receiving the blanks released from the stack, a deflector member for bringing the separated portions of the blanks against said conveyor, said sucker and separator members being arranged so as to move about a center near the remote ends of said members, the conveyor presenting a more or less fiat surface and being more or less parallel to the plane of a blank in the stack.

4. In a device for feeding envelope blanks in overlapped relation, in combination, a

support for holding a stack of blanks, a travelling conveyor belt disposed below the bottom of said stack and a portion thereof travelling in a plane parallel to and spaced from the bottom of the stack, means for initiating the separation of the lowermost blank,

means for completely separating said blank from the stack independentl of the forward feed of the blank, means or bringing the forward portion of,said blank against said conveyor, and means for holding same in contact with said conveyor, whereby said blank may take the motion of the conveyor, the operation of said elements being arranged in overlapping time relation.

5. In a device for feeding envelope blanks in overlapped relation, in combination, a support for holding a stack of blanks, a travelling conveyorv belt disposed below the bottom of said stack presenting a more or less flat surface and being more or less parallel to the plane of a blank in the stack and spaced from the bottom of the stack, means for initiating the separation of the lowermost blank,

means for bringing the forward portion of' said blank against said conveyor, and means for holding same in contact with said conr veyor, whereby said blank may takethe motion of conveyor, the operation of said elements being arrangedyin overlapping time relation. t J

6. In a device forfeeding envelope blanks i'n overlapped relation, .in combination, a

support for holding a stack of blanks, a travthe stack independently of the forward feed of the blank, means for bringing the forward portion of said blank against said conveyor, and means for holding same in contact with said conveyor, whereby said blank may take I the motion of the conveyor, the operation of 'said elements being arranged in overlapping time relation.

7. In a device for feeding envelope blanks in overlapped relation, in combination, a support for holding a stack of blanks, a travelling conveyor belt disposed in cooperating spaced relation thereto, means for separating the forward edge of the outside blank from the stack, a deflecting member having suecessive oscillatory and reciprocatory movements to be interposed between said separated forward edge and said stack and serving to deflect said separated portion against said conveyor, and a contact member for pressing said blank against said conveyor,

and having a reciprocatory movement relablank to be deflected against said conveyor; said suction means, deflecting member, andcontact member being operated in overlapping time relation.

8. In a device for feeding envelope blanks in overlapped relation, in combination, a support for holding a stack of blanks, a travelling conveyor belt disposed in cooperative -tive to said conveyor for permitting said Incl spaced relation thereto, suction means for separating the forward edge of the outside blank from thestack, said suction means having successive oscillating and reciprocatory movements from' an inoperative position to an operative position where it is in engagement with the forward edge of the blank and a similar return movement, a deflecting memv ber having similar combined oscillatory and reciprocatory movements to be interposed between said separated forward edge and elling conveyor belt' disposed below the bottom of said stack, suction means for separating the forward edge of the lowermost blank from the stack, said suction means having successive oscillating and reciprocatory movements from an inoperative positlon in advance of and below the forward edge of said stack to an operative position where it is in engagement with the forward edge of the lowermost blank and a similar return movement, a deflecting. member having similar oscillatory and reciprocatory movements to be interposed between said" separated forward edge and said stack and serving to deflect said separated portion againstsaid conveyor, and a contact member for pressing said blank against said conveyor, and having a reciprocatory movement relative to saidconveyor for permitting said blank to be deflected against said conveyor;

' said suction means, deflecting member, and I contact member-bemg operated in overlaping time relation. 10. In a device for feeding env'elope blanks in overlapped relation, in combination, a support for holding a stack of blanks, a travelling conveyor belt disposed below the bottom of said stack, a portion thereof travelling in a plane substantially parallel to and spaced from thebotto-m of said stack, means for separating the forward edge of the lowermost blank from the stack, said means hav ing successive oscillating and reciprocatory movements from an inoperative position in advance of and below the forward edge of said stack to an operative position where it is in engagement with the forward edge of the lowermost blank and a similar return movement, deflecting member having similar oscillatory and reciprocatory movements to be interposed between said separated forward edge and said-stack and serving to deflect said separated portionagainst said conveyor, and a contact member for "pressing said blank against said conveyor, and having a reciprocatory movement relative to said conveyor for permitting said blank to be deflected against said conveyor; said suction means, deflectingmem'ber, and contact .mem-

ber being operated in overlapping time relation. I

11. In a device for feeding envelope blanks in overlapped relation, in combination, a support for holding a stack of blanks, a travelling conveyor of said stack, a portion thereof travelling in a plane substantially parallel to and spaced from the bottom of said stack, suction means for separating the forward edge of the low-' ermost blank from the stack, a deflecting member serving to deflect said separated portion against said conveyor, and having a reciprocatory movement relative to said conveyor for permitting said blank to be deflected against said conveyor; said suction' means, deflecting member, and contact membelt/disposed below the bottom ber being operated in overlapping time relation, and means independent of the above mentioned elements for completing the separation of the blank from the stack.

12. In a device for feeding envelope blanks in overlapped relation, in combination, a support for holding a stack of blanks, a travel-- ling conveyor belt disposed below thebottom of said stack, a portion thereof travelling in a plane substantiall parallel to and spaced from the bottom o said stack, said portion being disposed in part below the forward edge of the stack-and in part imme diately in advance of said forward edge presenting a more or less flat surface and hem more or less parallel to the plane of a blan N in the stack, suction means for separating the forward edge of the lowermost blank rom the stack, a deflecting member serving to deflect said separated portion against said-conveyor, and a contact member for pressing said blank against said conveyor, and having a reciprocatory movement relative to said conveyor for permitting said blank to be deflected against said conveyor said suction means, deflecting member, and contact member beingopera'ted in overlapping time relation. v I

13. In a device for feeding envelope. blanks in overlapped relation, in combination, a support for holding a stack of blanks, a travel- I ling conveyor belt disposed below the bottom of said stack, a ortion thereof travelling in a plane substantlally parallel to and spaced from'the bottom of said stack, suction means for separating the forward edge of the low-' ermost blank from the stack, said suction means havinga combined oscillating and reciprocatory movement from an inoperative position to an operative position and a similar return'movement, a deflecting member having a movement to interpose the same be-' tween said separated. forward edge and said stack and serving to deflect said separated ortion against said conveyor, a contact memer for pressing said] blank against said conrelative to said conveyor for permitting said veyor, and havlng a reciprocatory movement blank to be deflected againstsaid conveyor; said suction means, deflecting member, and contact member being operated in overlapping time relation, and means independent of the above mentioned elements for completing the separation of said blank from the stack.

14. In a device for feeding envelope blanks in overlapped relation, in combination, a

support for holding a stack of blanks,a trav-- ellmg conveyor belt disposed below the bottom of said stack, a portion thereof travelling in a plane substantially parallel to and spaced from the bottom of said stack presenting a more or less flat surface and being more or less parallel to the plane of a blank in the stack, suction means for separating the forward edge of the lowermost blank from the stack, said suction means having a combined oscillating and reciprocatory movement from an inoperative position in advance of and below the forward edge of said stack to an operative position where it is in engagement with the forward edge of the lowermost blank and a similar return movement, a deflecting member having a movement to interpose the same between said separated forward edge and said stack and serv ing to deflect said separated portion against said conveyor, and a contact member for pressing said blank against said conveyor, and having a reciprocatory movement relative to said conveyor for permitting said blank to be deflected against said conveyor; said suction means, deflectingmember, and contact member being operated in overlapping time relation.

" 15. In a device for feeding envelope blanks in overlapped relation, in combination, a support for holding a stack of blanks, a travelling conveyor belt disposed below the bottom of said stack, a portion'thereof travel-ling in a plane substantially parallel to and spaced from the bottom of said stack presenting a more or less flat surface and being more or less parallel to the plane of a blank in the stack, suction means for separating the forward edge of the lowermost blank from the stack, said suction means having a combined oscillating and reciprocatory movement from an inoperative position in advance of and below the forward edge of said stack to an operative position where it is in engagement with the forward edge of the lowermost blank and a similar return movement a deflecting member having a similar combined oscillatory and reciprocatory movement to be interposed between said separated forward edge and said stack and serving todeflect said separated portion against said conveyor, and a contact member for pressing said blank against said conveyor, and having a reciprocatory movement relative to said conveyor for permitting said blank to be deflected against said conveyor; said suction means, deflecting 7 member, and contact member being operated in overlapping time relation.

16. In a device for feeding envelope blanks in overlapped relation, in combination, a suport for holding'a stack of blanks, a travelmg conveyor belt disposed below the bottom of said stink, a portion thereof travelling in a plane substantially parallel to and spaced from the bottom of said stack presenting a more .or less flat surface and being more or less parallel to the plane of a blank in the stack, said portion being disposed in part below the forward edge of the stack and in part immediately in advance of said forward edge, suction means for separating the forward edge of the lowermost blank from the stack, said suction means having a combined oscillating and reciprocatory movement from an inoperative position in advance of and below the forward edge of said stack to an operative position where it is in engagement with the forward edge of the lowermost blank and a similar return 'movement, a deflecting member having a similar combined oscillatory and reciprocatory movement to be interposed between said separated forward edge and said stack and serving to deflect said separated portion against said conveyor, and a contact member for pressing said blank against said conveyor, and having a reciprocatory movement relative to said conveyor for permitting said diately in advance of said forward edgig a pair of rotating separating disks dispose one on each side of the stack, the disks serving in part to support the stack and having a cut out portion forming a lip whereby every complete rotation of said disks serves to separate'the lowermost'blank from the stack, suction means for separatin the forward edge of the lowermost blank rom the stack, said suction means having a combined oscillating and reciprocatory movement from an inoperative position in advance of and below the forward edge of said stack to an operative position where itis in engagement with the forward edge of the lowermost blank and a simllar return movement, a deflecting memher having a similar combined oscillatory and reciprocatory movement to be interposed between said separated forward edge and said stack and serving to deflect said sepa-' rated portion against said conveyor, and'a contact member for pressing said blank "against said conveyor, and having a reciprocatory movement relative to saidconveyor for permitting said blank to be deflected against said conveyor; said suction means, deflecting member, and contact'member being operated in overlapping time relation,

and their cycle of o eration being com leted within the time 0 one revolution 0 said disks.

18'. In a 'machine for feeding envelope blanks in overlapped relation, the combination of a support for holding a stack of blanks, avtravelling conveyorbelt disposed below the bottom of said support and having.

' a portion thereof travelling in a direction away from the leading edge of the stack in a planeparallel to and spaced from the said bottom, said portion being disposed in part below the leading edge of said stack and in part in advance of said leading edge presenting a more or less flat surface and eing more or less parallel to the plane of a blank in the vstack, and operating'elements for separating the leadingedge of theoutside blank, for defleeting sald edgeinto contact with said 0011- for pressing said blank against veyor, and sa d conveyor,'whereby said conveyor withdraws said blank in a direction away-from the leading edge thereof and in a direction a parallel to the plane of the bottom of the tion of a support for holding a stack of v belt disposed below the bottomofsaid support and having part in advance of said leading-ed stack. 7 19. In a machine for feeding envelope blanks in overlapped .relation, the combinablanks, a travelling conveyor a portion thereof travelling in a direction away from the leadin edge of the stack in a plane parallel to an spaced from the said bottom, said portion being disposed in part below the leading edge of said stack and in e presenting a more or less flat surface and eing more or less parallel to the lane of a blank in the stack, and operating e ements for separating the leading deflecting said edge into contact with said conveyor, for pressing'said blank against said conve or, whereby said conveyor withdraws sai v the leading edge thereof and in a direction parallel to the plane of the bottom of the stack, said operating elements having of movement that lie substantiall within the and by space defined by the plane of t e conveyor the plane of the bottom blank.

In testimony whereof I have aflixedmy signature to this specification.

' BRAHAM NOVICK.

edge ofthe outside blank, for

blank in a direction away from paths CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,808,706. Granted June 2, 1931, m

ABRAHAM NOVIGK.

It is hereby certified that error appearsin the printed specification of the abovenumber'ed patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 13, claim '1, for "portions" rcad'portion, and line 16, same claim, for the syllable and word "rator portions" read rated portion;- same page, lines 27 and 30, claim 2,

for, the word "portion" read portions; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. I Signed and sealed this 4th day of August, A. D. 1931.

i Wm. a. Kinnan," (Seal) f Acting Commissioner'of Patents 

